Embracing God's Favor: A Year of Breakthrough
Summary
As we embark on the first service of 2025, it's crucial to set the atmosphere with a heart full of praise and expectation. This year is not just about getting through; it's about breakthrough. We are called to give God everything, trusting that He will outdo every previous year. God is unchanging, the same yesterday, today, and forever. If He moved for us in the past, He will move for us now. Our worship should reflect the belief that our prayers have already been answered.
In this new season, we are reminded of the importance of church governance and the role of our elders and ministry leads. They are the shepherds and overseers, appointed by the Holy Spirit to guard and guide the church. Their mission is to protect the flock from harm and to ensure that the church remains on course. Titles are not as important as the responsibilities they carry, and each leader is tasked with building and increasing their respective departments.
The message of favor versus labor is central to our journey this year. The story of Joseph and his coat of many colors illustrates the concept of living by favor rather than labor. Joseph's coat represented favoritism and special status, signifying that he was not expected to make his living through hard labor like his brothers. This is a lesson for us all: we can choose to live by the favor of our Father, trusting in His provision rather than relying solely on our efforts.
The blessing of the Lord makes us truly rich, and it adds no sorrow or burdensome toil. We are called to retrain our minds to understand that God's way is not hard labor but favor. Trusting in God's favor means believing that He can do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think. It's about embracing the truth that we are the favored of God, not because of our works, but because of His love for us.
As we move forward, let's wear the coat of favor boldly, proclaiming that we are the favored of God. This year, let's challenge ourselves to step out in faith, trusting in God's provision and favor. Let us not be concerned with what others think, but focus on what God has in store for us. This is a year of favor, and we are called to live in the fullness of God's blessings.
Key Takeaways:
- Trust in God's Unchanging Nature: God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If He has moved for us in the past, He will move for us now. Our worship should reflect the belief that our prayers have already been answered. [34:38]
- The Role of Church Leadership: Elders and ministry leads are appointed by the Holy Spirit to guard and guide the church. Their mission is to protect the flock and ensure the church remains on course. Titles are less important than the responsibilities they carry. [53:53]
- Favor vs. Labor: The story of Joseph's coat of many colors teaches us to live by favor rather than labor. Favor represents God's provision and special status, while labor signifies hard work and toil. We are called to trust in God's favor. [01:07:39]
- The Blessing of the Lord: The blessing of the Lord makes us truly rich and adds no sorrow or burdensome toil. We must retrain our minds to understand that God's way is not hard labor but favor. Trusting in God's favor means believing in His provision. [01:13:28]
- Embrace God's Favor Boldly: We are the favored of God, not because of our works, but because of His love for us. Let's wear the coat of favor boldly, proclaiming that we are the favored of God. This year, let's step out in faith, trusting in God's provision and favor. [01:43:41]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [34:38] - Setting the Atmosphere for 2025
- [53:53] - Introduction of Church Elders
- [55:47] - Ministry Leads and Their Roles
- [57:36] - Importance of Church Governance
- [01:00:05] - The Concept of Favor vs. Labor
- [01:04:31] - Trusting God with Finances
- [01:07:39] - Joseph's Coat of Many Colors
- [01:09:40] - The Significance of Favor
- [01:13:28] - The Blessing of the Lord
- [01:25:41] - Embracing God's Favor
- [01:31:30] - Trusting God with Everything
- [01:39:51] - The Love of the Father
- [01:43:41] - Wearing the Coat of Favor
- [01:48:14] - Communion and Closing Remarks
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 37:3 - "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors."
2. Proverbs 10:22 - "The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it."
3. Acts 20:28 - "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Joseph's coat of many colors symbolize in the context of the sermon? [01:09:40]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of church elders and ministry leads? [53:53]
3. According to the sermon, what is the difference between living by favor and living by labor? [01:07:39]
4. What does the sermon suggest about God's nature in relation to His blessings and favor? [01:13:28]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors illustrate the concept of favor versus labor in a believer's life? [01:07:39]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that church leadership should reflect the guidance of the Holy Spirit? [53:53]
3. How does the sermon interpret Proverbs 10:22 in the context of God's blessings and favor? [01:13:28]
4. What implications does the sermon draw from Acts 20:28 regarding the responsibilities of church leaders? [53:53]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's favor in your life. How did it differ from times when you relied solely on your own efforts? [01:09:40]
2. How can you actively trust in God's unchanging nature and His ability to provide for you this year? [34:38]
3. In what ways can you support and pray for your church leaders as they guide the congregation? [53:53]
4. What steps can you take to embrace God's favor more boldly in your daily life, despite what others might think? [01:43:41]
5. How can you retrain your mind to understand and live by God's favor rather than hard labor? [01:13:28]
6. Identify an area in your life where you need a breakthrough. How can you apply the principles of favor versus labor to this situation? [01:07:39]
7. Consider the role of worship in your life. How can your worship reflect the belief that your prayers have already been answered? [34:38]
Devotional
Day 1: Trust in God's Unchanging Nature
In a world that is constantly changing, it is comforting to know that God remains the same. His nature is unchanging, and His promises are steadfast. This truth is a foundation for our faith, reminding us that if God has moved in our lives before, He will do so again. Our worship should be a reflection of this belief, filled with gratitude and expectation. As we enter this new year, let us hold onto the assurance that our prayers are already answered, and God's faithfulness will continue to guide us. [34:38]
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8, ESV)
Reflection: What past experiences can you recall where God demonstrated His faithfulness? How can these memories strengthen your trust in His unchanging nature today?
Day 2: The Role of Church Leadership
Church leadership is not about titles but about responsibilities. Elders and ministry leads are appointed by the Holy Spirit to shepherd and guide the congregation. Their mission is to protect the church and ensure it remains on the right path. This year, let us support our leaders as they build and increase their respective departments, understanding that their role is crucial for the health and growth of the church community. [53:53]
"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account." (Hebrews 13:17, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively support and pray for your church leaders this week? What specific actions can you take to encourage them in their roles?
Day 3: Favor vs. Labor
The story of Joseph and his coat of many colors illustrates the concept of living by favor rather than labor. Joseph's coat symbolized his special status and the favor he received, which set him apart from his brothers who labored. This year, we are called to embrace the favor of God, trusting in His provision rather than relying solely on our efforts. By living in God's favor, we acknowledge that His blessings are not earned by our works but are gifts of His love. [01:07:39]
"And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs." (Daniel 1:9, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying too much on your own efforts? How can you begin to trust more in God's favor and provision today?
Day 4: The Blessing of the Lord
The blessing of the Lord enriches our lives without adding sorrow or burdensome toil. This year, we are encouraged to retrain our minds to understand that God's way is not about hard labor but about favor. Trusting in God's favor means believing that He can do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think. Let us embrace the truth that we are the favored of God, not because of our works, but because of His love for us. [01:13:28]
"The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it." (Proverbs 10:22, ESV)
Reflection: How can you shift your mindset from striving through hard labor to resting in God's favor? What practical steps can you take to live in the fullness of His blessings?
Day 5: Embrace God's Favor Boldly
We are called to wear the coat of favor boldly, proclaiming that we are the favored of God. This year, let us step out in faith, trusting in God's provision and favor. It is not about what others think but about what God has in store for us. As we embrace this truth, we can live confidently in the fullness of God's blessings, knowing that His love for us is the source of our favor. [01:43:41]
"For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield." (Psalm 5:12, ESV)
Reflection: What fears or doubts are holding you back from fully embracing God's favor? How can you step out in faith and boldly proclaim His favor in your life today?
Quotes
God And he has answered At any time And he has answered He's the God that does not change He's the same yesterday Today And forever And if he moved for you then He'll move for you now [00:33:24] (20 seconds)
The coat had a representation. It represented favoritism and a special status. It wasn't just a garment and it wasn't just a piece of fabric. It represented a special favor that Joseph had with his father. [01:09:00] (19 seconds)
The blessing of the Lord it makes rich so to say I'm blessed is to say I live by favor. [01:26:26] (14 seconds)
You can wear the coat of a laborer and you can live the life of a laborer, or you can wear the coat of favor and you can live the life of favor. The Bible is full of examples of God's favor showing how he wants to bless us and how he wants to help us in our lives. [01:39:10] (20 seconds)
Favor will always attract to you opportunities, but it will also attract to you opposition because those who trust in labor are jealous of those who walk in favor. [01:41:29] (13 seconds)
So Joseph got the coat simply because he had been born. That's it. That's all he did. You are favorite of God because you have been born again. That's it. That's all that matters. [01:40:59] (11 seconds)
And not be concerned about what anyone else thinks, because it's that concern about what other people think that keep us from moving into the supernatural. [01:46:02] (9 seconds)
Quit worrying about what people think. People think about you and you'll find it a lot easier to obey God. You just will. It's like, I don't care what you think. I'm going to dance like a crazy woman across the front. Why? Because you don't know that God healed me of cancer. [01:47:15] (21 seconds)
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