Embracing Divine Favor: A Journey of Grace
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound concept of favor, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible and is essential for a successful life. Favor is not something we earn through labor or merit; it is a divine gift granted by grace. Our relationship with God should not be transactional, where we attempt to earn His blessings through our deeds. Instead, we must embrace the freedom that comes from receiving His favor by faith, acknowledging that our best efforts are like filthy rags compared to His grace. This understanding liberates us from the burden of trying to earn what has already been freely given through Christ.
We delved into the idea that favor is not an excuse to avoid living righteously but an empowerment to do so. Grace enables us to live holy lives, not as a result of our actions but because we have been made righteous through Christ. This righteousness is not something we achieve; it is imputed to us, allowing us to act righteously because we are righteous.
The journey of increasing in favor is akin to growing into a garment that is already ours. Just as Jesus increased in wisdom and favor, we too must grow into the favor that is already ours. This growth requires us to be teachable, to seek understanding, and to value favor as something precious. We must pursue it relentlessly, acknowledging God's presence in our lives and being quick to obey His instructions.
Favor manifests most powerfully in unfavorable situations, as illustrated by a personal story of betrayal and reliance on God's provision. Even when circumstances seem dire, God's favor can open doors and provide in unexpected ways. Our role is to trust in His favor rather than our own efforts, allowing Him to work in our lives.
To increase in favor, we must value it, remain teachable, and seek understanding. This involves acknowledging God in all our ways, being quick to obey, and aligning our thoughts with His. Favor is God's way for His people to live, offering liberation, breaking cycles, and creating new legacies. As we embrace this divine favor, we position ourselves to experience the fullness of God's promises.
Key Takeaways:
- Favor vs. Labor: Favor is a divine gift, not something earned through labor. Attempting to earn God's blessings through our deeds is a form of unbelief. Embracing favor by faith liberates us from the burden of trying to earn what is freely given. [01:33]
- Grace Empowers Righteousness: Grace is not an excuse to avoid living righteously; it empowers us to do so. We are made righteous through Christ, and our actions reflect this righteousness. Our deeds do not make us righteous; we act righteously because we are righteous. [04:46]
- Growing into Favor: Favor is like a garment that is already ours, but we must grow into it. This growth requires being teachable, seeking understanding, and valuing favor as precious. We must pursue it relentlessly and acknowledge God's presence in our lives. [06:05]
- Favor in Unfavorable Situations: Favor manifests powerfully in unfavorable situations. Trusting in God's favor rather than our own efforts allows Him to work in our lives, providing in unexpected ways and opening doors that seem closed. [09:02]
- Value, Teachability, and Understanding: To increase in favor, we must value it, remain teachable, and seek understanding. Acknowledging God in all our ways, being quick to obey, and aligning our thoughts with His are essential for experiencing the fullness of His promises. [31:22]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:33] - Favor vs. Labor
- [02:41] - Freedom in Grace
- [03:41] - Grace in Action
- [04:46] - Empowerment through Grace
- [06:05] - Growing into Favor
- [07:15] - Trusting in Favor
- [09:02] - Favor in Unfavorable Situations
- [10:24] - Personal Story of Betrayal
- [12:27] - Jesus' Growth in Favor
- [13:13] - Importance of Being Teachable
- [14:08] - Growing in Grace and Knowledge
- [16:27] - Understanding God's Favor
- [18:11] - Favor as Divine Kindness
- [21:30] - Valuing Favor
- [23:28] - Supernatural Thinking
- [31:22] - Teachability and Understanding
- [39:46] - God's Way and Favor
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Understanding and Growing in Divine Favor
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 2:52 - "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."
2. Romans 4:4-5 - "Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness."
3. 2 Peter 3:18 - "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."
---
Observation Questions:
1. According to Luke 2:52, in what areas did Jesus grow, and how does this relate to the concept of favor? [06:05]
2. How does Romans 4:4-5 differentiate between earning wages and receiving favor? What does this imply about our relationship with God? [01:33]
3. In 2 Peter 3:18, what are believers encouraged to grow in, and how is this growth connected to favor? [14:08]
4. What personal story did the pastor share to illustrate favor in unfavorable situations, and what was the outcome? [09:02]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of favor as a divine gift challenge the idea of a transactional relationship with God? [01:33]
2. In what ways does grace empower believers to live righteously, according to the sermon? How does this differ from trying to achieve righteousness through actions? [04:46]
3. What does it mean to "grow into" favor, and how can believers actively pursue this growth in their daily lives? [06:05]
4. How can unfavorable situations become opportunities for God's favor to manifest, based on the pastor's personal story? [09:02]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you tried to earn God's favor through your actions. How can you shift your mindset to receive His favor by faith instead? [01:33]
2. Identify an area in your life where you feel burdened by trying to achieve righteousness. How can you rely more on God's grace to empower you in this area? [04:46]
3. Consider a situation in your life that seems unfavorable. How can you trust in God's favor to work through this situation, and what steps can you take to acknowledge His presence? [09:02]
4. What practical steps can you take to remain teachable and seek understanding in your spiritual journey? How can this openness to learning help you grow in favor? [13:13]
5. How do you currently value God's favor in your life? What changes can you make to pursue it more relentlessly, as suggested in the sermon? [21:30]
6. Think about a recent decision or action. Did you acknowledge God in that process? How can you make acknowledging Him a more consistent part of your daily routine? [32:28]
7. What is one specific way you can align your thoughts with God's, especially in areas where you struggle to trust His favor? How can this alignment impact your life? [39:46]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Divine Favor Over Human Effort
Favor is a divine gift that cannot be earned through human effort or merit. It is bestowed upon us by God's grace, liberating us from the burden of trying to earn His blessings through our deeds. This understanding shifts our relationship with God from a transactional one to a faith-based one, where we receive His favor freely. Our best efforts are like filthy rags compared to His grace, and embracing this truth allows us to live in the freedom of His favor. This divine favor is not an excuse to avoid living righteously but an empowerment to do so, as it enables us to live holy lives through the righteousness imputed to us by Christ. [01:33]
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you still trying to earn God's favor through your own efforts? How can you begin to embrace His grace and favor as a gift today?
Day 2: Grace as the Empowerment for Righteous Living
Grace is not a license to live unrighteously; rather, it empowers us to live in alignment with God's will. Through Christ, we are made righteous, and our actions should reflect this righteousness. It is not our deeds that make us righteous, but because we are righteous through Christ, we are empowered to act righteously. This understanding of grace transforms our approach to living a holy life, as it is not about striving to achieve righteousness but about living out the righteousness that has been imputed to us. [04:46]
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." (Titus 2:11-12, ESV)
Reflection: How does understanding grace as empowerment change your approach to living a righteous life? What specific actions can you take today to live out the righteousness you have received through Christ?
Day 3: Growing into the Favor Already Given
Favor is like a garment that is already ours, but we must grow into it. This growth requires us to be teachable, to seek understanding, and to value favor as something precious. Just as Jesus increased in wisdom and favor, we too must grow into the favor that is already ours. This involves acknowledging God's presence in our lives, being quick to obey His instructions, and pursuing favor relentlessly. By doing so, we position ourselves to experience the fullness of God's promises. [06:05]
"And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man." (Luke 2:52, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a teachable spirit to grow into the favor God has already given you? What steps can you take today to seek understanding and value His favor in your life?
Day 4: Trusting in Favor During Unfavorable Situations
Favor manifests most powerfully in unfavorable situations. Even when circumstances seem dire, God's favor can open doors and provide in unexpected ways. Our role is to trust in His favor rather than our own efforts, allowing Him to work in our lives. This trust requires us to acknowledge God's presence and guidance, even in the midst of challenges, and to rely on His provision rather than our own understanding. By doing so, we can experience His favor in ways that surpass our expectations. [09:02]
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a current unfavorable situation in your life. How can you shift your focus from your own efforts to trusting in God's favor? What steps can you take today to rely on His provision and guidance?
Day 5: Valuing Favor Through Teachability and Understanding
To increase in favor, we must value it, remain teachable, and seek understanding. This involves acknowledging God in all our ways, being quick to obey, and aligning our thoughts with His. Favor is God's way for His people to live, offering liberation, breaking cycles, and creating new legacies. As we embrace this divine favor, we position ourselves to experience the fullness of God's promises. By valuing favor and pursuing it with a teachable spirit, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's grace in our lives. [31:22]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: How can you cultivate a heart that values God's favor and remains teachable? What practical steps can you take today to align your thoughts and actions with His will?
Quotes
"Throughout the Bible, men were always either seeking favor or granting favor. Favor, listen to what I'm saying, we can't make it through life successfully without favor. We need favor. But one of the things I pointed out to you out of the book of Romans, and I'll quote it again in a little bit, is that if our approach to life is labor, meaning we're in order to get above and get moved, we're going to work two jobs, we're going to work three jobs, we're going to trust in ourselves. That's labor. And you weren't designed by God to make it by labor, you were designed by God to make it by favor." [00:00:23] (43 seconds)
"And the moment we drop that basket full of filthy rags and realize I'm not trying to earn what he has granted. I receive it by faith. Then I'm no longer trying to earn what he has already granted. That is freedom. That's amazing grace. And every promise of God is based on grace. There's not a promise of God that's based on your merit, on you earning it. In fact, let me say it to you this way. Ain't nobody ever earned nothing from God." [00:02:17] (37 seconds)
"If it's all of grace, then I don't got to try to live holy. If it's all of grace, I don't have to give. If it's all of grace, I don't got to pray. If it's all of grace, I ain't got to do. If we see grace as an excuse from, we misunderstand grace, because grace is not an excuse from, it's an empowerment to. It's only by grace we can actually ever live holy. It's only by grace we can actually ever be righteous." [00:03:59] (28 seconds)
"But if I understand I am righteous, not based upon what I do, I am righteous because He made me righteous. He imputed righteousness unto me. Now I can do righteousness. I can do righteous things, but the righteous things I do don't make me righteous. I do righteous things because I am righteous. Is that making sense? And righteousness is what righteous people do." [00:04:46] (21 seconds)
"Jesus kept increasing in favor. To increase means to move along, to grow into. So kind of a way to understand it is this, is that wedding dress that's been in your family for four generations. Right? It was great grandma's, then grandma wore it, and then mama wore it. Now mama just gave birth to this beautiful little baby girl. And that dress belongs to baby girl. But baby girl don't fit it yet. But it's hers." [00:05:33] (38 seconds)
"Jesus remained teachable. And as he learned who his father was, who he was, and how greatly God loved him, he grew in favor. And if Jesus increased in favor, it's important that you and I increase in favor. We need to grow and to learn and to be teachable. But some folks are not teachable, which is why they never increase. I wrote this down at the point where you fool yourself into thinking you know that you're not." [00:13:28] (30 seconds)
"Growing in knowledge is equated to growing in grace. I want to say that again. According to what the Holy Spirit said through Peter growing in knowledge is the same thing as growing in grace. As you grow in the knowledge of who your Father is, you discard that religious picture that religion has painted of Him that He is somehow a judgmental tyrant who's looking for a reason to take you out." [00:15:56] (31 seconds)
"Favor is any kind act God has ever done for humanity. Any kindness God has ever shown you, that was favor. The more we acknowledge it, the more it operates in our lives. The more we grow into it. Favor, as I told you I think last week or the week before, favor ain't fair. Because it promotes you ahead of time and in front of others who in the worldly system of thinking may be doing something that is not good. And it may be more deserving." [00:18:27] (30 seconds)
"So I want to give you three ways, three ways, simple, three. We can all do three, three ways to increase in favor. You ready for this? Number one, value favor. Value it. See it as something valuable. I wrote this down. The worth we place on anything is revealed by how we're in love. We pursue it. God has always desired and demanded that he be valued." [00:20:52] (37 seconds)
"If we want favor to flow, we've got to be quick to obey. God told me, well, then have you done it? No. Why? Because I like God dealing with me. Not me. Because I have, listen, I have learned if I'm quick to obey, then all the people that are in my sphere, everyone who has anything to do with my breakthrough, my provision, a word I need to hear, a connection I need to make. If I'm quick to obey, whatever you sow, you'll reap, then they're quick to obey." [00:28:03] (42 seconds)
"In order to increase in God's favor, we must not only consider our ways and be obedient to instruction, we must strive to get understanding. Proverbs 13, verse 15 says, Good understanding produces favor. But the way of the treacherous is their own disaster. The question is, do you understand what it means to understand? Most people don't. Understand is kind of a big word." [00:37:57] (28 seconds)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?