The Favor of God: Thriving in God’s Gifts and Calling!
Through the years I have noticed that something is crazy about Chick-fil-la, why would someone patiently set in line for a chicken sandwich?
I believe there is a place where God turns His favor towards people!
It’s a place where God can trust His people with His generosity!
Matt 11:28-30 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. KJV
Matt 11:28-30 28 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. 29 Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 30 Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (The Message)
I Believe with all my heart that there is a rhythm in life that is easy and unforced.
A place of internal rest while thriving!
Notice I didn’t say striving!
I believe in this place, the favor of the Lord is manifested!
Heb 3:19-4:1-11 19 So we see that because of their unbelief they were not able to enter his rest. 4:1 God's promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. 2 For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn't share the faith of those who listened to God. 3 For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, "In my anger I took an oath: 'They will never enter my place of rest,'" even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. 4 We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: "On the seventh day God rested from all his work." 5 But in the other passage God said, "They will never enter my place of rest." 6 So God's rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. 7 So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: "Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts." 8 Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. 9 So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. 10 For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. 11 So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall. NLT
Rest: the place where He fixes his presence, an abode
Acts 7:49 49 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that?' asks the Lord. 'Could you build me such a resting place? NLT
As God’s abode (temple) if we can learn to walk in the unforced rhythm of Grace, He will be manifested in our lives!
Each of these were a matter of being present, the unforced rhythm of Grace!
Let me also state, that we physically need rest, just as Jesus separated Himself regularly to rest.
The Difference Between Physical Rest and Spiritual Rest is “Thriving rather than Striving!”
Thriving: growing, developing, or progressing vigorously in a healthy manner Striving: the act of making strenuous, sustained effort or fighting against adversity to achieve a goal.
Matt 14:13-14 13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. NLT
Was Jesus striving or thriving?
Mark 6:31-34 31 Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat. 32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. 33 But many people recognized them and saw them leaving, and people from many towns ran ahead along the shore and got there ahead of them. 34 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. NLT
Was Jesus striving or thriving?
The Key to living in the unforced rhythm of Grace is Rest!
Rest: the place where He fixes his presence, an abode
1 Cor 6:19-20 19 Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. NLT
Heb 10:29-30 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? NKJV
God has fixed His presence in us through the Holy Spirit which brings the Favor of God!
The Three Dimensions of the Manifestation of Grace
Dimension 1: Grace (charis) Saves You
Eph 2:8-9 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. KJV
Grace The unearned, undeserved favor of God toward humanity.
It is God’s mindset towards the believer!
This is where most Christians remain!
Dimension 2: Favor (Charin) Aligns You
Luke 2:52 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour (charin) with God and man. KJV
When Charis transitions into "favor," (charin) it shifts from an intellectual concept of mercy into a visible, positioning for purpose.
Favor: God choosing to bless, protect, elevate, increase and mark someone out for a supernatural assignment.
Divine favor is often given to equip individuals to fulfill a specific calling or to bless others.
Noah: Found favor in the eyes of the Lord, saving his family from the flood and preserving humanity. Joseph: Experienced God's favor in slavery and prison, which eventually elevated him to save nations from famine. Esther: Found favor with the king, which empowered her to protect her people from destruction. Mary: Was chosen to be the mother of Jesus after an angel told her she had "found favor with God". Jesus: "Increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man".
The favor of God brings the assets needed to fulfill your God given assignment!
Acts 2:47 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. KJV
Dimension 3: Charismata Empowers You
Rom 12:6-8 6 In his grace (favor), God has given us different gifts (charismata) for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. NLT
Favor: God choosing to bless, protect, elevate, increase and mark someone out for a supernatural assignment. Gifts: supernatural endowments upon believers by the operation of the Holy Spirit
Conclusion: Learning to flow in the unforced rhythm of Grace is thriving in and with God’s gifts and callings!
Rom 11:29-30 29 For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. NLT
