Embracing God's Now: Favor and Salvation Today
Summary
In our gathering today, we delve into the profound truth that God's favor and salvation are not distant promises but present realities. We stand on the precipice of divine intervention, where the Lord declares, "In the time of my favor, I will answer you, and in the day of salvation, I will help you" (Isaiah 49:8). This is not a future event; it is a now event. The authority of Jesus, as affirmed in Matthew 28:18, encompasses all of heaven and earth, and it is this authority that undergirds our present moment of favor and opportunity for salvation.
I shared a personal testimony of a time when I was in a deep and dark depression, on the verge of suicide. In that moment of desperation, I cried out to God, and though I did not see a supernatural vision, I encountered God through His Word. It was a transformative experience that led me to understand that God is indeed the God of now, ready to perform miracles and bring salvation in the present moment.
We live in a culture that craves immediacy, yet there is profound power in the waiting seasons. It is in these times that God is forming us, shaping us into the people He desires us to be. We must embrace the waiting, for it is there that we find strength and renewal. God's timing is perfect, and He is always working for our good, even when we cannot see it.
The key to unlocking the fullness of God's favor and salvation is to recognize that we are not next in line for God's blessings; we are now at the forefront of His grace. We must seize the moment, for we cannot create more time. Today is the day of salvation, and now is the time to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Key Takeaways:
1. The present moment is saturated with God's favor and the opportunity for salvation. We must recognize that God's promises are not reserved for a distant future but are available to us right here, right now. This understanding transforms our perspective and propels us into a life of immediate response to God's call. [49:33]
2. Personal testimonies are powerful reminders of God's timely intervention in our lives. Sharing our encounters with God's grace not only strengthens our faith but also encourages others to seek and experience God's transformative power in their own lives. [54:04]
3. The waiting seasons are not idle times; they are periods of divine formation. In these times, God is actively working within us, preparing us for what is to come. We must embrace patience and trust in God's process, knowing that He is shaping us for His purposes. [36:55]
4. God's timing is not bound by our understanding of time. He operates from an eternal perspective, reaching into our past, present, and future to bring healing and restoration. We must trust in His perfect timing, knowing that He is always at work for our good. [39:51]
5. The declaration of "now" is not for Jesus to make; it is for us to proclaim. Jesus has always had all authority; it is our responsibility to declare His lordship and live in the reality of His power in our lives today. This declaration is an act of faith that aligns us with the truth of God's eternal reign. [45:14]
In conclusion, let us embrace the immediacy of God's favor and salvation. Let us live with the conviction that we are not waiting for the next move of God; we are living in it right now. Let us boldly proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ and walk in the authority He has given us, for now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Isaiah 49:8 - "This is what the Lord says: 'In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances.'"
2. Matthew 28:18 - "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'"
3. 2 Corinthians 6:2 - "For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Isaiah 49:8, what does God promise to do in the time of His favor and the day of salvation?
2. In Matthew 28:18, what does Jesus declare about His authority? How extensive is it?
3. How does 2 Corinthians 6:2 emphasize the urgency of God's favor and salvation? What word is repeated to stress this urgency? [28:29]
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean for God's favor and salvation to be a "now" event rather than a future promise? How does this change our perspective on God's promises? [28:29]
2. How can personal testimonies, like the pastor's story of overcoming depression, serve as powerful reminders of God's timely intervention in our lives? [52:07]
3. Why is it important to embrace the waiting seasons in our lives? How does God use these times to form and shape us? [36:00]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's favor or salvation in a significant way. How did that moment impact your faith and perspective on God's promises? [28:29]
2. The pastor shared a personal testimony of encountering God during a dark time. Have you ever had a similar experience where God intervened in your life unexpectedly? How did it change you? [52:07]
3. Waiting can be challenging, especially in a culture that craves immediacy. How can you cultivate patience and trust in God's timing during your current season of waiting? [36:00]
4. The sermon emphasized that we are not next in line for God's blessings; we are now at the forefront of His grace. How can you live with the conviction that God's favor and salvation are available to you right now? [28:29]
5. How can you actively declare Jesus' lordship and live in the reality of His power in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to align yourself with the truth of God's eternal reign? [45:14]
6. The pastor mentioned that God's timing is perfect and He is always working for our good. How can you remind yourself of this truth when you face difficult or uncertain situations? [39:51]
7. Think of someone in your life who might benefit from hearing your testimony of God's intervention. How can you share your story with them to encourage their faith and trust in God's timing? [54:04]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing God's Immediate Favor
God's favor is not a distant hope but a present reality. Believers are encouraged to understand that the divine favor and salvation promised in the scriptures are not merely future events but are accessible in the here and now. This realization is pivotal, as it shifts one's mindset from passive waiting to active participation in the kingdom of God. Recognizing that the present moment is saturated with God's favor means that every situation faced today is an opportunity to experience His grace and mercy. This perspective is transformative, urging believers to respond immediately to God's call and to live out their faith with urgency and conviction. [49:33]
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33 ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively seek God's kingdom and righteousness in your daily life, starting today?
Day 2: The Power of Testimony
Sharing personal experiences of God's intervention is a vital aspect of faith that bolsters not only one's own belief but also that of others. By recounting times when God has moved powerfully in one's life, believers provide tangible evidence of His love and faithfulness. These testimonies serve as beacons of hope, illustrating that God is timely and responsive to the cries of His children. They remind us that God's transformative power is not confined to the pages of scripture but is an ongoing reality in the lives of those who trust in Him. [54:04]
"And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." (Revelation 12:11 ESV)
Reflection: Can you identify a moment in your life when God intervened in a powerful way, and how can you share this testimony to encourage someone today?
Day 3: Divine Formation in Waiting
The seasons of waiting are not void of purpose; they are times when God is actively shaping and preparing His people. These periods are not to be rushed, as they are integral to spiritual growth and maturity. In the silence and stillness, God molds character, builds resilience, and instills wisdom. Believers are called to embrace these times with patience and trust, knowing that God's timing is perfect and that He is at work even when His hand is not immediately visible. The waiting is not wasted; it is a divine process of becoming who God intends one to be. [36:55]
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9 ESV)
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you are currently waiting on God, and how can you actively trust in His process during this time?
Day 4: Trusting God's Eternal Timing
God's understanding of time transcends human perception. He operates from an eternal viewpoint, weaving together past, present, and future for the good of those who love Him. Trusting in God's timing means acknowledging that His plans are not always aligned with human schedules or expectations. It is a call to rest in the assurance that God is sovereign over every moment and that His timing is always aimed at bringing about the best possible outcome for His children. This trust allows believers to live in peace, free from the anxiety of trying to control the uncontrollable. [39:51]
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8 ESV)
Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God's timing, especially in a situation where you feel impatient or anxious?
Day 5: Proclaiming the Authority of Jesus Now
The authority of Jesus is not a future promise but a current reality. It is the responsibility of believers to declare Jesus' lordship and to live in the power of His reign today. This act of faith is not passive; it is a bold proclamation that aligns one's life with the truth of God's kingdom. By acknowledging Jesus' authority, believers are empowered to walk in confidence, knowing that they are under the protection and guidance of the King of Kings. This declaration is a daily commitment to live out the implications of Jesus' lordship in every aspect of life. [45:14]
"For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power." (1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV)
Reflection: What does declaring Jesus' lordship over your life look like in practical terms, and how can you demonstrate His authority in your actions today?
Quotes
1) "But I have found that there's so much power in the waiting period. There's so much wisdom and so many powerful lessons learned in the waiting period." [32:27](Download | Download)
2) "And I hit my face on the ground and I began to just worship the Lord out in the spirit. And 10 to 12 hours later, I got it from that moment. And I can't tell you how it happened, church, but I can tell you that I'm a living testimony that he still does miracles here tonight." [54:04](Download | Download)
3) "And I thank God that his timing is everything. And I'm here to tell you that you're not here by coincidence, you're not here by accident, but you are here by a divine purpose and for a plan." [39:51](Download | Download)
4) "It's in the waiting. I'm hurting, but he's forming me. I'm going through it, but he's forming me. I don't have the answers, but he's forming me. I'm living paycheck to paycheck, but somehow he's forming me." [36:55](Download | Download)
5) "Unless if the word now wasn't a word for him, but it was a word for me. In other words, Jesus never lost his authority, nor did he gain it. It was and is and will always be his." [45:14](Download | Download)
6) "So it's for me to declare right here and right now that Jesus Christ is Lord. So I'm not next. And the only way for me to live in what God has for me next is to accept the gift that I have been given right here and right now." [46:56](Download | Download)
7) "There's power in the waiting. You've been angry with God because he still hasn't answered the prayer that you've been praying for, but God knows that it's that specific request that keeps you coming back to him at all." [36:00](Download | Download)
8) "And I've come to tell somebody tonight that you ought to stop complaining that you aren't where you want to be yet and start thanking God that he has you right where he wants you, right here and right now." [35:05](Download | Download)
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